Mold construction for line casting machines



March 5, 1 940.

C. E. BRANDON, JR

MOLD CONSTRUCTION FOR LINE CASTING'MACHINES Filed March 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CLARENCE E. BRANDON JR.

BY ATT RNEY March 5, 1940. RA DQN R 2,192,220

MOLD CONSTRUCTION FOR LINE CASTING MACHINES Filed March 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CLARENCE E. BRANDON JR.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES Mono CONSTRUCTION FOB LINE CASTING MACHINES Clarence Brandon, .lr.,- Leuis, Mo. Application March 4,1939, Serial No. 259,177 15 Claims. (01. 199-47) 'line casting machines for the purpose of casting l large display type above the sizes ordinarily possible in theme of standard line casting ma chines.

Among the more important objects of the ins.

. vention is an improved provision of a mold structure for line casting machines, inwhich the liner elements are at all times secured to and'form parts oftthe mold, whereby to obviate the necessity of removing and replacing conventional types of liners when changing from slugs of one point size to slugs of a different point size. I Various provisions have heretofore been made in the art for adjusting one or more of the elements forming the mold cavity, in an attempt to obviate removal of the mold from the mold disc incident to a change in point size, and further in an attempt to reduce the considerable and expensive stock of liners now prevalently required to care for the wide range of different point sizes of type to be cast by the machine. None of these efforts has, as far as is known, been successful to a disgree to warrant general adoption. Accordingly, in prevalent practice it is necessary to remove the cap from the base of the mold,.reinsert a pair of liners of the selected size, then 35 to reassemble the cap and base of the mold. It is accordingly a further, general object of the invention to obviate many of these operations incident to a change in point size of type in the slug to be cast. 40 A further important object of the invention is attained in a marked reduction of the stock of liners heretofore required due to changes in point size. The changes in point size for the slugs. existing within a range, for example, between five 45 point to fourteen point inclusive, including a usual five and one-half pointsize, require the operator to keep at hand some twenty-two liners to cover these different point sizes within the range noted, there being two liners heretofore 50 required for each given point size of slug to be 1 cast. It is needless to point out that'the expense this considerable stock of liners entails an investment desirable to be minimized.

Yet another object of the invention is attained wall element of the mold cap, for example, which is provided with a single adjustment agency so designed that the movable wall element when adjustedincident to a change in point size, is auto-. matically levelled in a; manner to assure the 5 samedepth of the mold cavity from end'to end thereof.

A still further object of the invention isattained in a casting attachment adapted for use with a type metal pot, and heating means there- 10 for to enable the machine operator or printer to set up and cast, as required, particularly the larger display types, for example, from thirty-six point to one hundred and forty-four point, it being noted that this attachment is particularly it; desirable for use in connection with the meter pot of existing types of linecasting machines and is designed to employ matrices of known form as the type-defining elements. of theattachment. o

Yet another object of the invention is attained in an improved adjustable recessed sliding mold of general adaptation for use in or with line casting machines, the assembly of whichmold is'extremely simple in construction, and suchtliat 'itmay be attached, either in the mold disc of standar-d machines without any alteration being necessary, or may be used adjunctively, as theattachment referred to inthe object next above stated.

The foregoing and many other obje'cts of the invention will appear fromthe following detailed description of certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention,,particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,'and in which: Fig. 1 is an elevation in perspective of an improved mold assembly constructed in accordance with the invention, and in a form adapted for use as an attachment to a metal pot of a line casting machine; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through 40 the mold head structure of the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 3. is a horizontal section of the mold head structure of Figs. 1 and 2, as viewed along line 3- 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 ma front elevation of the mold head structure of Figs. 1 and 2 with the 4.5 type or matrix tray in open position, Fig. 4 showing one end portion in section, and Fig. 5 is a front ,elevational view of the mold assembly as same would appear when mounted in a conventional type of mold disc of a line casting machine.

Referring now by characters of reference to; the drawings, the mold properincludes a base In and a cap portion generally indicated at H, the base and cap constituting the halves of the mold. l6

adjusting agency exemplified in the drawings by The mold as shown, is of so-called recessed type the general construction and usage of which, but for present improvements, are well known to those skilled in the art and require no amplified description. The usual mounting of the mold assembly is substantially as shown by Fig.5 wherein the numeral l2 indicates the body of a mold disc usually provided with a plurality of cavities l3 for the reception of the mold, and the mold being retained in the disc through a plurality, shown as a pair, of screws M. The screws l4 project depthwise from the periphery of the mold disc, and bear against the cap of the mold whereby the latter is held firmly in clamped relation in the disc. The periphery of the disc is shown as provided with the usual gear teeth or the like l6.

The cap l I of the mold is provided with a plurality of recesses extending rearwardly from or depthwise of the open front face of the mold structure, these recesses being indicated at H, and as appears, are defined by and located between a plurality of partition elementsim. Open- .ing into each or a plurality of the recesses H, are

-provements include a movable longitudinal wall 7 element defining what may be considered either the tenor one of the longitudinal walls of such cavity. This movable element which, for present convenience, is designated as an elevator, in indicated generally at 22, and extends from end to .end of the cavity-forming portion of the mold.

The elevator22 is provided with a shouldered recess 23 best shown by Fig. 2, and due to this rabbeted construction of the forward upper face of .the elevator, there results a shoulder 24 on its lower portion which coacts with thelugs of the I matrices to establish their position for casting "45.

under certain conditions as will appear from the drawings and later description. Projecting rear- .wardly from the forward bar or body portion fthe elevator 22, are a plurality of spaced partition elements 25 best appearing in Fig. 3; these "50.

partition elements are of a width to provide a working clearance thereof, in the recesses ll of theoap, being fitted thereto in such manner that the tongues 25 will substantially prevent any escape of the casting metal above and outwardly of the tongues, and the working fit being further such that no appreciable frictional resistance be tween the tongues 25 and partitions l'i impairs the adjusting movement of the elevator 22 as hereinafter described. It will be noted that the tongues 25 project inwardly of the mold, so as to engage the rear wall 26 of the mold cavity in the cap. 1

It is a preference to provide for vertical. adjustment of the wall element or elevator 22, through a single substantially centrally located the screw 30, a threaded seat 3! being provided therefor in that portion of the cap just above the mold cavity. The lower end of screw 3!] termihates in a flared swivel end 32 occupying a cor respondingly shaped recess therefor in the upper portion of the elevator 22. This recess is preferably slotted inform (not shown) so as to faciliadjusting recess 33 into which'projects the head portion 34 of the screw 30, which head may be either of square or hexagonal shape, or of other form suitable for actuation by a wrench orlike tool. A look nut 35 is provided so that once the elevator is adjusted to the desired height according to the point size of the type to be cast,

a wrench (not shown) may be inserted into 7 opening 33 for engagement not only with the head 34 of the screw, but may further be used to actuate the lock nut 35.

In order to provide a firm abutment for the ends of the elevator and hence to' be assured of the point size of type to be cast, as well as of the uniformity of the width of the resulting mold cavity in the cap, there is provided at ornear each end of the elevator 22, but within the confines of the mold parts, a stack of liners 49. These liners may each be of uniform thickness,

say of two points, or if desired, may be of a variety of thicknesses, but each thereof is preferably apertured substantially between ,its. ends as at ll, for the reception of a headed pivot pin E2 which, for convenience, may be threaded into securement with the base 1!} of the mold. It results from this arrangement that the liners 40 of each stack may be selectively swung about their pivot say through an angle of 180 degrees, from an out-of-action position shown by the major part of thestack in Fig. 4, to an in-action or functional position beneath the elevator 22 as shown by the lesser group in Fig. 4. However,

due to the location of the pivot openings and pin d2 of each stack, between theends of the as;

sociated liners, it will appear that all of the liners of the given, group remain in superposed ,or stacked relation irrespective of the number thereof whichare swung from out-of-actionyto inaction position.

For the purpose of providing a combined re- '40 tainer for the liners which are out of use, and a gauge element to inform the operator definitely of the adjusted elevator height, there is provided at each. endpof the elevator a T-shaped resilient element 43 secured as vby pins or the upwardly or downwardly with the elevator, but

may be manually deflected to enable withdrawal or reinsertion of the liners as may be required,

Referring further to the base H! of themold.

it is a preference to form the forward'face 45 thereof, with three grooves 46 and intervening rail portions H;- The three grooves and intervening rails are preferably employed to provide a wider range of adjustment in heights of the matrices such as 56, as will best appear from the section in Fig. 2, it being understood that'the grooves may be; selectively or collectively utilized for the reception of the lugs of the matrices go ing to make up the assembled line.

There is shown as a means for securing together the cap and base of the mold, an expedient found in the present disclosure in a hinge bolt 5i interfitting the slot fit and provided with a 3 nut 53, all as appearing at the left hand side of Fig. 4, the hinged bolt being carried by a pivot/55 which may be carried by the mold base. a When the mold is employed in the standard line casting machines, the manner of setting up the matrices for the purpose of casting the slug is or may be identical with the procedure and order of events now followed in connection with such machines, and hence need not be described I in detail. Assuming, however, that the mold is' prepared for casting and ity is desired to change from one point size of type to another, with the frontv of the mold open, as appears in Fig, i, the wrench is applied to the head 34 of screw after loosening the set screw 35, and through manipulation of the screw 30 the elevator 22 is brought to the desired height above base H], as will be indicated by the number of liners cleared by the lower edges of the retainer and gauge elements 4.3. Usually the elevator will be brought slightly above this position so as to provide for certain clearance in inserting the predetermined number of" the liner elements 40.. beneath the ends by Figs. 3 and 4, including the base portion id According to preference, the attachment is detachably carried by the metal pot of the machine with which it isutilized, but may obviously be applied to an entirely separate melting crucible or other structure. A portion of the pot wall is indicated at M, to which the attachment is held as by clamp structure El which may be of any suitable, preferably simple construction. The clamp 6i supportingly engages reversely curved metal conduit which may be described as a. gooseneck conduit indicated generally at B2. The lowermost portion of conduit is consider-- ably enlarged, and is upturned from the portion adjacent the bottom of the pot so as to form a cylinder 63 open at its upper or outer end for the reception of a plunger or piston M. The piston 64 is provided with an upwardly extending actuation rod or handle 65, which is broken away for clearness of illustration of other parts, out which extends above the bath of metal in the pot a distance to be safe for manual engagement by the operator.

The vertical or riser portion of the gooseneck tube 62 merges into a flared or widened throat structure indicated generally at Eli. This ispreferably so formed as to tend to prevent even any minor localized freezing effect of the metal prior to the time it reaches the mold cavity, and for this purpose the portion 65 is shown as enclosed by an insulating material Ell in which is embedded a number of turns of resistance wire ll] supplied from any suitable source ofelectrical energy (not shown).

As a convenient means of attachment of the conduit tothe mold head structure comprising the mold and immediate appurtenant parts, an outer end element ll forms a continuation of the conduit 62-, particularly the part thereof, and is mitered as shown at '52 to engage a corresponding internally miter-ed portion it in the mouthpiece element hi, which in the present instance constitutes a backing or support for the remaining parts of the mold head. By closely machining the mitered end surfaces of the fitting H, and the seat therefor in element M, there s prov d d a metali h ne on which m be easily broken for disassembly of the mouth piece and conduit, by endwise sliding movement of the element M. It will be noted that the channels 2i entering the mold cavity, are projected rearwardly and horizontally through the element 1 for communication with the conduit portion 66.

It is a preference to provide for displaceable sccurement of the mold proper, the base it thereof, tothe element 14, as by hinging together their lower horizontal margins through the hinge structure it. When the front of the mold is open, it is at times desirable to maintain the mold in adjacence to the mouthpiece it, and for this purpose there are provided at the ends of elements H3, and Ill, suitable securernent means exemplified by a pair of latches 76, each pivoted to the mold base iii and engaging a companion. pin element ii on the mouthpiece. One such latch assembly is preferably provided on each of the opposite ends of the mold head, enabling the parts to be retained in term L porary assembly in the relation shown by l.

Hingedly connected to the lowermost horizon tal portion of the mold base ill of the attach ment. is a displaceably mounted type tray or matrix tray generally indicated at Bil, provided with a hinge structure 84 which serves pivotally to relate the parts 86 and it. This matrixrcceiving clement fil is essentially in the form of an open top and open side rectangular structure including a fixed end closure element 52, and a second adjustable such element 83, together witha front or matrix-backing wall portion all, This front wall portion of the type'tray is shown as provided along its inner'iace with three rails 85, the upper of which is somewhat wider than the two lower rails, and which result in intervening groove portions 85. These rails and grooves correspond in position and relation to the rails ll and intervening groove portions 45, as best appears from Fig. 2, the rails and rooves coacting with the relatively recessed and projecting lateral portions or lugs of the matrices for positioning them, as will be readily under stood by those skilled in the art. I

To provide for adjustment of the movable end wall. or abutment 83. of the type tray, according to the pica length of sing to be cast, the element 83 is secured to an adjusting rod which on tends to the left of the type tray for manual actuation, although not shown. in its full ferried length. When the type stick is set up disposed in the tray Bil, the movable abutment is moved through actuation of the rod Gil, so to compact the line of. type in the tray, and

thereupon is tightened up a wing nut 9i (Figs. ly

and 3), this screw abutting the adjusting rod Elli so as firmly to clampthe n'iovable wall lid in the desired position. For the purpose of positively locking the type tray, the mold and the backing or mouthpiece element i4 in closely assembled relation so as to specifically l 00 for the reception of bolt 92, as best shown by Fig. 2.

Although if desired, the mold head assembly may be equipped with mechanical provisions for ejecting the line or slug after casting, it is a present preference, for simplicity of structure, to utilize a separate tool (not shown) for this purpose, and which may conveniently consist of a bar provided with short, right-angled fingers extending from one side thereof, the bar being of a form to be easily introduced. between the mold and mouthpiece, and the fingers of the tool being so shaped that with the ejector thus disposed, ejecting pressure may be applied as hereinafter better described, through use of the wing nut 95 and screw 92, with the nut engaging the mold.

The functions and advantage of the casting box attachment, when utilizing the adjustable sliding recessed mold heretofore described, will have been in part apparent from the foregoing description of parts, but it may be noted that, with the type stick disposed in proper relation in the tray 86, and with the mold elevator 22 appropriately adjusted for the predetermined point size of type as through the screw 39 and liner elements ll), all as heretofore described, the mold is latched against the element M through engagement of the elements 76 with the pins H. The type tray 80, with the matrices therein, is then moved upwardly about the hinge 8! so as to bring the tray, mold and element I l into close parallel adjacence, which position is assured through the casting operation by dropping the screw Q2 into notch It!) and tightening the wing nut 95. The plunger 64 is then actuated through rod 65 to displace the requisite quantity of molten type metal upwardly through conduit 62, the throat portion 66 thereof, thence through passages 2i and into-the mold cavity. The slug is now cast, and upon freezing, is ready to be removed, from the mold, to which end the nut, 95 is released, screw 92 removed from slot I00 and swung to an out-of-action position as shown by Fig. 1. The type tray may then be dropped to the'position shown by Fig. 1 and but for a subsequent casting of the same line, the type stick is removed from the tray. The mold ll), H is then released by opening movement of latches 16, which permits the mold to drop downwardly and forwardly of the backing element 14. At this stage the rear face of the mold is exposed to permit scraping away the feet of the type line with a suitable scraper element or knife (not shown). At this point the ejector tool is inserted between the mouthpiece or backingelement, and the mold, with'the fingers of the ejector tool engaging the feet areas of the cast slug.

With the ejector thus positioned, the swing bolt 92 is brought downwardly so that the wing nut may engage the forward face of the mold cap H. The wing nut is then threaded up, and the pressure thus brought by the ejector against the rear side of the slug will serve to eject the line forwardly from the mold and into the type tray. Following ejection of the slug or line, the ejector is removed, and the tray, mold and mouthpiece assembled as heretofore described, for casting. The foregoing cycle of operation may be now repeated for the same or an additional line as may be desired.

It will have been apparent from the arrangement of rails and grooves 45, ll, and 86 (Figs. 1 and 2) that provision is made for relatively different placements of the matrices in thetypc tray and hence in different positions relative t the forward face of the mold.

It may be further mentioned as a preference to provide, if desired for centering a short line with respect to the mold, suitable spacer elements abutting the inner face of the fixed end wall 82 of the type tray. It is also desirable to provide,

in addition to the usual matrices which may be of conventional type, for casting the several let ters of the line, certain blank spacers (not shown) which conform in outline to the letterforming matrices but which are employed 'be- I tween the different words of the line for purposes of separation, all as is well known in the art.

It will now have appeared from the foregoing description that the mold proper, as well as the attachment and mold appurtenances constructed in accordance with the present invention, serve.

fully to attain each and all of the objects hereinabove expressed, as well as those implied from the more detailed description.

Although the invention has been described by making particular reference to certain presently preferred embodiments thereof, the description is to be understood in an instructive and not in a limiting sense, since numerous changes maybe made in the parts and their assembly, without departing from the spirit and full intended scope of the invention as defined by the claims here-' unto appended.

The following subject matter is claimed:

1. In a mold assembly of a type for use with a line casting machine, a mold formed of separable halves, a movable element in one of themold halves, for setting the mold according to desired point size of type, combined means for adjusting and clamping the movable element in any selected position, a plurality of liners disposable in any selected number in position to serve as a stop for the movable element, and pivot meansby which the liners are. displaceably attached to one of the halves of the mold. t

2. In a mold assembly of a type for use with a line casting machine, a mold formed of separable halves, a movable element in one of the mold halves, for setting the mold according to desired point size of type, combined means for adjusting and clamping the movable element in predetr mined position, a plurality of apertured liners movable in any selected number into spacing position relative .to the movable element, and

pivot means carried by one of the mold halves and extending through the apertures oil the liners: 1

3. In a mold assembly of a type adapted for use with a line casting machine, mold elements defining a casting cavity, one of said elementsextending longitudinally of the mold assembly and constitutingan elevator adjustable for varying the point size of type to be cast, and a plurality of liners carried by the mold element's,

in stacks near the opposite ends of the elevator and adapted to be moved in selected o, numbers intoand out of functional relation to the elevator, and means for retaining the liners of each stack, in stacked relation, irrespective of their functional relation tothe elevate-11' 5. In a mold assembly for use with a line casting machine,mold elements defining a casting cavity, one Of said elements extending longitudinally of the assembly and being adjustable for varying the point size of the type to be cast, a plurality of liners carried by certain of the mold elements, the liners being arranged in superposed groups near the opposite ends of the adjustable element, and adapted to be shifted in selected numbers into and out of functional relation to said adjustable element, means carried by the adjustable element so as to engage the groups of superposed liners and arranged to retain a predetermined number of liners of each group, in out-of-action position with re-, spect to the adjustable element, in accordance with the adjustment of said element.

- 6. In a mold assembly adapted for use with a line casting machine, a mold including separable cap and base portions, one of said portions including a recess-defining wall adjustable for forming slugs of different point'sizes, a plurality of liners pivotally attached to one of said mold portions and arranged to be positioned in selected numbers to constitute stops for said adjustable wall; and means carried by the adjustable wall for retaining predetermined numbers of said liners in out-of-action position, said means serving to indicate, according to position of the adjust able wall, the number of liners insertable in 7 functional relation thereto. v

'7. In a mold assembly of a type for. use in or with a line casting machine, a mold characterized by separable cap and base portions, an'elevator, adjustably carried by the cap portion, and

positionable for forming slugsof different point sizes, a single central adjustment means through actuation of which the elevator may be moved toward and'from the base portion of the mold, a group of stacked liners near each opposite end of the elevator, and means for retaining the unused liners in stacked relation, in a number dependent on the adjusted position of the elevator.

8. A mold structure adapted for use in or with a line casting machine, a base member and a cap member detachably assembled to constitute the halves of the mold, a movable wall adjustabl carried by the cap, a plurality of liners arranged to be inserted between. said movable Wall and the base of the mold, the liners being pivotally carried by the base and independently'swingable into functional position between the movable wall and the base, each of the liners being apertured between its ends to receive the associated pivot element and so swingably disposed about such element that the liners in use serve to support in stacked relation, those not in use, whereby all of the liners of a given group are retained at all times in stacked relation, irrespective of the functional relation of any selected number of the liners, with the movable wall.

9. In a mold assembly of a type 'for use with a line-casting machine, a capmember, a base member to which the cap is detachably secured, an elevator adjustably carried by the cap memher and movable therein in a direction to and from the base to enable an adjustment of the mold cavity for varying the point size of the type to be cast, an adjusting screw normal to the elevator and pivotally attached at its lower end near the midpoint of the elevator, the screw being in threaded engagement Witha portion of the mold cap above the mold cavity, the cap being provided with a recess about the head of said screw to permit access thereto for adjusting purposes from the open front of the mold, a

' lock nut carried by the screw, and a plurality of liners pivotally carried by the base of the mold and insertable in selected number between the elevator and the base.

30. In a mold assembly of atype for use with line casting machine, mold elementscoacting to a casting cavity, one of said elements extending longitudinally of the mold assembly and constituting an elevator adjustable. for varying the point size of type to be cast, a plurality of liners. pivotally carried by one of the mold elements, and arrangedin stacks near the oppoends of the elevator, and a resilient retainer member for each said stack of liners, carried by and in projecting relation from each end of the elevator, the cap, base, elevator, liners and .re-.

tainer elements being so arranged [that the elevator and the liners of each stack are fully visible 7 from the open front of the mold, irrespective of the functional relation of-the liners-to the elevator.

11. In a type-mold attachment adapted for use in conjunction with a line casting machine, a mold assembly, a reversely curved conduit for molten metal opening at one end into the mold assembly, and serving as a supporting standard therefor, metal displacement means near the other end of the conduit, and adapted for forcing molten metal through the conduit into the mold assemblyand clamping means for detachable securement of the. conduit to ametal pot.

In a mold assembly for detachable securement to a metal pot of a line casting machine or the like, an apertured mouthpiece or nozzle member, a mold base, a hinge through which the mold base is displaceably secured to the mouthpiece, a mold cap detacl'iably secured to the mold base, a matrix tray and stick-holding structure, a hinge by which the tray is displaceably carried by the mold base, a latch device connecting the mold base and nozzle, and a latch device conforwardly therefrom, and a pivoted latch con nection between the mold base and nozzle mem ber, arranged for releasably retaining the mold and nozzle member in slug-casting relation.

14. In a'slug-casting attachment of the general type described and including a mold head, a matrix tray hingedly connected to a forward horizontal margin of the mold head, said tray including a slidable end wall, a closure on the end wall for the unused portion of the forward face of the mold head, and adapted to project endwise beyond the tray and mold head, means formoving the end wall along the tray into its desired position of adjustment, and means for retaining the adjustable end Wall in predetermined. position along the tray.

15. In combination with a slug-casting attach ment of the general type described, including a mold head, a tray displaceably carried by the mold head for the reception of matrices, the tray having a fixed end wall and a displaceable end,

wall, an actuating arm extending outwardly of the displaceable end wall, and guidingly engaged by the fixed end wall, a clamping screw threadr edly engaging the trayand adapted to abut said arm, and means for clamping the tray into line 5 casting relation with the mold head. CLARENCE E. BRANDON, J it. 

